Emilia‑Romagna releases half‑million octopuses to curb invasive blue crab

Approximately 500,000 laboratory‑grown common octopuses will be released in the Adriatic Sea off the coasts of Riccione and Cesenatico during the second half of August 2026. The release is part of the experimental Octo‑Blu project, promoted by the Regione Emilia‑Romagna in collaboration with the University of Bologna and the Cesenatico University Fish Production Centre. Scientific coordination is led by Professor Oliviero Mordenti of the university’s Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, together with Antonio Casalini and other researchers.

The initiative aims to assess whether octopuses, natural predators of the invasive Atlantic blue crab, can help mitigate the crab’s impact on local clam farms and the broader ecosystem of the Upper Adriatic. Two release zones have been selected: near submerged barriers near Riccione that provide natural cavities, and an artificial‑shelter area off Cesenatico within a no‑fishing zone. A preliminary release of a few thousand individuals has already taken place, with the larger deployment scheduled for later in August. Researchers stress that the experiment is not presented as a definitive solution; its success will depend on the octopuses’ ability to adapt to the sandy seabed and retain effective predatory behavior.